Free agent wide receivers no sure things

History shows there are plenty of easy mistakes that can be made when signing veteran wideouts

February 25, 2012|Dan Pompei | On the NFL

INDIANAPOLIS — In the next couple of weeks, Bears general manager Phil Emery will make a decision that could have wide-ranging ramifications for his team.

Will he pursue a veteran free agent wide receiver such as Vincent Jackson of the Chargers? Or will he use an early-round draft pick on a wide receiver such as Notre Dame's Michael Floyd?

At the scouting combine, the Bears are in the process of interviewing many of the top receiver prospects, including Floyd, Kendall Wright of Baylor, Alshon Jeffery of South Carolina, Rueben Randle of LSU and Chris Givens of Wake Forest. Those receivers are scheduled to work out for NFL teams Sunday.

It's also probable that the Bears are sniffing around the free agent crop of wide receivers, which is very enticing at a glance. Among the players who may be available March 13 are Jackson, Dwayne Bowe of the Chiefs, Marques Colston of the Saints, Steve Johnson of the Bills, Eddie Royal of the Broncos, DeSean Jackson of the Eagles, Mario Manningham of the Giants, Josh Morgan of the 49ers, Laurent Robinson of the Cowboys, Brandon Lloyd of the Rams, Plaxico Burress of the Jets, Wes Welker of the Patriots and Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon of the Colts.

As interesting as the list is, the history of wide receivers in free agency may give Emery pause.

You would think it would be easy to sign a veteran with a proven track record, plug him in and get instant production. There certainly is more known about a player who has been in the NFL for at least four years than there is about a player who still is living in a dorm room.

But if you acquire a veteran receiver, you need to follow some rules, according to five front office men who have done it.

Signing a receiver is about more than acquiring his talent. It's also about acquiring his character, his work habits, his expectations and his attitude.

"A lot of receivers have that diva mentality and are selfish," an NFC personnel director said. "It's all about them. They are used to doing things their own way. When you bring a guy like that into a locker room, it can lead to problems."

An established group of veterans often does not take kindly to a loudmouthed, highly paid interloper who believes he is better than the rest. "Chemistry in the room often is a problem, and chemistry with the quarterback too," said an NFC general manager. "That position can mess with a team more than any other. They are the biggest chicks on the team. They often have a very high opinion of themselves. As a rule, they don't approach their jobs with the same degree of professionalism players at other positions do."

It often works better when a receiver is drafted —even if he is a diva. This way, he starts out on the bottom rung of the totem pole, carrying pads for veterans and fetching donuts. He earns his respect and his catches.

When an established receiver comes in expecting to be treated like royalty, he needs to produce instantly or risk falling out of favor in the locker room, with the coaching staff and with the media and fan base. This applies to veterans who are acquired in trades too (see Braylon Edwards, Roy Williams and Ashley Lelie).

After the Seahawks signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a five-year, $40 million contract in 2009, both he and his employers expected him to be the big cheese in the Seattle offense. But Houshmandzadeh and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck never clicked, and Houshmandzadeh wore out his coaches and teammates with his complaining. Even though he led the team in receiving, he was released before the next season began.

Rule No. 2: Remember that every receiver who is a free agent is on the market for a reason. As a rule, the best ones never are allowed to leave their teams.

The Raiders gave Javon Walker a six-year, $55 million contract in 2008.

Walker was available because he wore out his welcome in Green Bay and Denver as a result of contract squabbles, injuries and some off-field incidents.

He caught 15 passes for the Raiders before he wore out his welcome in Oakland as well.

Rule No. 3: Understand that receivers are not interchangeable parts.

Wide receivers, save for a select few, usually have one position at which they are best, whether it's flanker, split end or slot. They also tend to fit certain systems better than others.

Just because Welker leads the league in catches for the Patriots, playing mostly from the slot, it doesn't mean he could come close to that playing outside for the Bears.

Deion Branch averaged 62 yards per game for the Patriots in 2005. After he was traded to the Seahawks, he averaged 46 yards per game over the next five years. Upon returning to New England in 2010, he averaged 64 yards per game.

The Patriots used him mostly as a slot receiver. The Seahawks didn't use him inside much.

Rule No. 4: Be cautious with receivers who are older than 26 or who have a history of injury.

Seven years ago, the Bears signed 32-year-old Muhsin Muhammad to a six-year, $30 million deal. He was productive for two years.

Last year, the premier receiver on the market was Sidney Rice. He was on the market in part because he had missed 25 percent of his games in his first four years. After signing with the Seahawks last summer for $43 million over five years, Rice played in only nine games because of shoulder and head injuries.

Rule No. 5: Do not expect a complementary receiver to become a primary receiver.

Alvin Harper made many big plays as a No. 2 receiver to Michael Irvin on two Super Bowl teams in Dallas. After he signed with the Buccaneers to be their lead dog, his average per catch went from 24.9 yards to 13.8. He lasted two years in Tampa.

Like a lot of free agent wide receiver acquisitions, he did not earn his money.